Combined insole and arch support



May 5, 1931.

o. GREGAREK COMBINED INSOLE AND ARCH SUPPORT Filed June 14. 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 1,

May 5, 1931. o. GREGAREK COMBINED INSOLE AND ARCH SUPPORT Filed June 14,1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 5 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECOMBINED INSOLE AND ARCH SUPPORT Application filed June 14,

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combined insoleand arch support for shoes and the like, and has for its object to soconstruct such a device that the insole and arch support will bepermanent parts of each other.

A further object of the invention is to so design the device that it maybe made entirely of felt and that in use, it will develop the propermedial tread, namely, a tread from the center of the heel on a straightline forward through the great toe, thus bringing the bones of the footin proper alignment, and giving effective support to the arch.

With these and other ends in view, this invention consists in thedetails of construc tion and combination of elements hereinafter setforth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describeits construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1, is a plan view of my combined insole and support for the rightfoot, showing a skeleton foot in broken lines in proper rela tiveposition to the device.

Fig. 2, is an edge view of Fig. 1, the skeleton of the foot beingomitted.

F ig'. 3, is a plan view of a left foot insole and support showing aslightly modified form of my invention.

Fig. 4, is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a further slight modification ofmy invention.

In carryng out my invention as embodied in Figs. 1 and 2, 10 representsan insole of the proper shape to fit snugly within a shoe and havingformed thereon the arch support 11 of the unique outline shown whichoutline is for the purpose hereinafter set forth and the edges of thissupport are skived on angles, as clearly indicated and also for thepurpose hereinafter explained. This article 1929. Serial No. 370,773.

is preferablymade by utilizing a piece of felt of sufficient thicknessto include the thickness of the finished insole and the support, thesurplus stock being skived and cut away to produce the the proper heightof the arch support.

On thatside of the insole upon which the small toe of the foot falls,the arch support is extended to the edge of the insole as indicated at12 and the rear portion of the support including this extension isskived at a gradually increasing angle from the outer edge of theextension to the opposite edge of the support as indicated at 13 inorderthat the rear joints of the bones of the arch may be supportedon theinclined surface formed by this skiving and follow the downwardlyinclining portion of the arch which blends with the heel of the foot,thereby tending to hold the foot in proper position within the shoe. I

The rear portion'of the support including the extension 12 is intendedto support the posterior arch comprising the internal cuneiform, middlecuneiform, externalcuneiform and cuboid bones.

The forward 7 such shape so as to underlie and support the bones, theskiving 14 along the front edge of the support serving to support theforward joints of these bones without interfering wlth the propercurvature of the under side of the foot at this point. I

The point blendingbetween the skiving. 14 with the skiving 15 isintended to extend between the joint of the big toe and the joint of thenext toe so as to properly position these joints and prevent crowdingwhich is' essential to maintain the proper tread.

A support made as above described will develop the proper medial treadfrom the center of theheel on a straight line forward including thegreat toe, thus bringing the bones of the foot in proper alignment andproviding the proper support for the posterior, lonproper thickness ofinsole and portion of the support is of 7 gitudinal and anterior archesincluding the metatarsal arch.

The device being made entirely of felt pro vides a soft and yieldingtread to the foot throughout, while giving a sufiicient support to thearch, avoiding any hard pressure upon the under side of the bones of thefoot, and being absorbent, takes up perspiration and gives sufficientventilation to the foot and tends to prevent disagreeable odors and theformation of callouses. Also, this combined insole and support is lightin weight and may be readily removed for cleansing and airing.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, I form the heel 16 and arch supportof one piece 17 which latter is of the same shape as that described inconnection with Figs. 1 and 2 and after splitting the support 17 asclearly shown, the forward portion of the insole 18 is skived along itsinner edge and inserted between the split sections of the support sothat when said sections are brought against the faces of the insole theymay be stitched thereon as indicated at 18a. The insole may be reversedto fit either a rig t or left handed shoe with all the advantages beforedescribed, as will be readily understood.

In the modification shown in Fig. a the insole 19 has stitched thereonthe arch support 20 of the same forms as that described in connectionwith Figs. 1 and 2, and a layer of felt 21 is superimposed and stitchedupon the upper surface of this insole, thereby covering the arch supportwhich gives the added advantage of protecting the foot from directcontact with the edges of the'arch support.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the limitsof the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and useful is 1. As an article of manufacture, aninsole having an arch support formed. thereon and projecting from oneface thereof and fashioned to provide a major portion extendinglongitudinally ofthe insole to support the longitudinal arch extendingfrom the posterior arch to the anterior arch with the forward endprojecting between the great and second toes and extending toward theexterior edge of the device as'a support for the metatarsal bones,having an extension at the rearend terminating at the edge of the insoleas a support for the posterior arch, and the edges of the support beingskived outwardly and downwardly from the top face of the support to thetop face of the insole to provide a gradual decrease in thickness of thesupport from its surface to the surface of the insole. I

2. A device of the character described comprising an insole and an archsupport produced .as a unitary structure with the arch the longitudinalarch of a foot between the posterior and anterior arches and fashionedto provide a medial tread from the middle cuneiform bone to a pointbetween the great and second toes adjacent the metatarsal arch, and theedges of said support being skived to provide in particular a beveledsupport for the metatarsal bones.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

OTTO GREGAREK.

support located in the position occupied by

